Feeler mechanism for looms



Sept.

Filed Dec. 14

Wm Wm Hm ATT/QNEY Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVIN L. STONE, O3? LAW'EENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGITOR TO PRAYER COB- PORATION, 03F HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF IWAINE.

FEELER hfiflCl-ZANISM FOB LOOMS.

-implication filed December 14, 1923.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Mnnvm L. STONE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lawrence, in the county of aser; ant State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms whereby the operative condition of the loom is changed from time to time.

Feeler mechanisms are now ordinarily employed in looms for the purpose of either stopping the loom or replenishing the filling when the filling in the shuttle has reached a predetermined condition of exhaustion. here the feeler mechanism is employed for replenishing the filling before complete exhaustion, it is important that the feeler mechanism shall function to effect replenishment of filling only when that in the running shuttle has reached the desired degree of exhaustion, and shall function to prevent replenishment of filling when a working supply is present in the shuttle.

It sometimes happens during the loom operation that the feeler mechanism fails to be held by the filling when a working supply is present, and is liable under such conditions to call for a change of filling prematurely and thus cause waste.

One of the important features of the present invention consists of feeler mechanism wherein the feeler will be effectively prevented from movement prematurely to call for a change of filling, and yet will function to effect change of filling when substantial exhaustion of filling is reached. Another important feature of the invention consists in a feeler mechanism which functions as hereinbefore noted and in which, should the feeler partake of its side swipe movement when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle, such movement of the feeler will not effect replenishment.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view at the feeler side of a loom provided with the present invention, the lay being shown in its retracted position and the feeler mechanism in its normal condition;

Fig. 2 is a perspective side view showing Serial No. 680,717.

the feeler mechanism in the act of effecting replenishment of filling on a detecting beat;

Fig. 3 is a detail showing one good form of means for actuating the dog and placing it in operative position; and

Fig. 4: is a cross-sectional view showing the dog in its operative position to effect replenishment of filling through the side or lateral movement of the feeler.

The invention is herein shown as associated with a feeler of the inclined type which is displaced in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward pressure of a surface within the shuttle to effect replenishment of filling, but it is evident that the advantages of the invention may also be secured in connection with other types of feeler mechanisms. It has not been deemed necessary herein to show and describe the details of the replenishing mechanism, because such mechanisms are now well-known and the details thereof form no essential part of the present invention.

The loom frame 1 may be of any usual construction and as shown has mounted at the front thereof the transverse or rock shaft 2 mounted in bearings 3, one at each sioe of the loom. Arising from the transverse or rock shaft 2 is an arm 1 to which is pivotally connected at 5 the rearwardly extending actuator 6 having pivotally connected thereto at 7 the end engaging portion 8, comprising a lower member 9 and an upper member 10. The lower member 9 is adapted to be moved at times frontwardly by an operating member 11 which may be formed on or as part of the cam followen Mounted upon a support 12 is a bell crank lever 13 one arm of which underlies the member 10 and the other arm of which is connected to a transmitter 14, the construction being such that should the transmitter 14: be moved lengthwise to the right, as shown, the bell crank lever will be actuated to place the member 9 of the actuator in position to be engaged by the operating member 11.

Extending from the shipper stand 15 is a bracket 16 to which may be secured as usual the feeler stand 17 by means of a boltlS passing through a slot 19 in the feeler stand.

The feeler 20 is herein shown as of the inclined type and in the present instance extends rearwardly through the slotted bearing 21 formed at the rear of the feeler stand, the slot in the rear bearing being of sufiioient dimension to permit the feeler to move laterally or longitudinally of the shuttle to an extent sufficient to call for replenishment of filling by actuation of the transmitter 14, as will presently appear.

Secured to the feeler frontward of the rear bearing is a bridge or support 22 and extending frontwardly therefrom is the feeler stem 23 which passes through a swivel block 24c mounted on the bracket 25 secured to the feeler stand. A spring 26 between the bridge and the swivel block normally tends to move the feeler rearwardly into feeling position. These parts, with the exception of the omission of the transversely movable slide in the rear bearing of the feeler stand, may be substantially the same as the similar parts shown and described in the Edward S. Stimpson patent, No. 1,309,- 226, July 8, 1919.

he lay 27 may be of usual construction and is provided with the shuttle box 28, the front wall of which is slotted as at 29 to register with a slot 30 in the wall of the shuttle when the latter is properly positioned in the shuttle box. These parts are or may be as usual infeeler looms, it being understood that the shuttle carries the filling carrier with the filling 81 wound there- In accordance with the present'invention the feeler 20 which may be identified as an impinging feeler has associated with it a penetrating feeler. which will penetrate the filling on a detecting beat when a working supply is present and by such penetration prevent premature movement of the impinging feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle. Associated with the penetrating feeler is means for actuating the transmitter provided the penetrating feeler is moved frontwardly relative to the impinging feeler by engaging the dense substance of the filling carrier or bobbin on a deteet ing beat and through the side or side swipe movement of the impinging feeler effect replenishment of filling. Should, however, the penetrating feeler not be moved frontwardly relative to the impinging feeler on a detecting beat, but, nevertheless, fail to hold the impinging feeler from its side swipe movement, the means controlled by the penetrating feeler will not be operatively positioned to call for a change of filling, even though the impinging feeler partakes of its full side swipe movement.

In the present instance of the invention, the penetrating feeler 32 is formed as a pin, the small end portion 33 of which is conveniently passed through an opening in an end of the impinging feeler 20 and normally projects rearwardly thereof. The penetrating feeler 32 is threaded and ad justed in position to determine the amount of the extension'of the end beyond. the end of the impinging feeler by means of a nut 34., I p

The penetrating feeler 32 is extended frontwardly and in the present instance the frontward extension is shown as a stem 35 having a projection or cam portion 36 which is adapted to be moved frontwardly by the penetrating feeler through an opening 37 in the bridge22.

Mounted upon the bridge 22 is a dog 38 which, in the present instance, is pivotally supported at 39 and has a fan-tailed end 40.

Extending downwardly from the dog 38 is a finger 41 which is normall held in the a y m path of movement of the cam 06 or the penetrat ng feeler either by the weight of the do or b other a 3 are )riate means the b 7 construction being such that should the penetrating feeler be moved frontwardly relative to the impinging feeler on a detecting beat the cam portion 36 will act upon the in er 41 of the do and hft'the do into the position indicated in Fig. that is, its operative position, whereupon the movement of the impinging feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle at such times will cause the dog to act upon the transmitter l t and initiate replenishment of filling.

The bridge 22 is preferably slotted at 42 to accommodate the dog 38 and a stop 43 connected to the dog limitsrthe movement of the dog to its operative position.

The transmitter 14: is mounted for longitudinal movement in an arm 44 which may be conveniently supported by the feeler stand 17 and the stop 15 on the transmitter into the filling and the filling will then enk gage the rear end of the impinging feeler which will be held by the penetrating feeler from premature movement longitudinally of the shuttle. If at this time, notwithstanding the presence of the penetrating feeler, the impinging feeler should partake prematurely of its side swipe movement, the dog 38 will not have been operatively positioned, because the penetrating feeler will not have been moved frontwardly relative to the impinging feeler and the dog will not/therefore operate the transmitter. Should the filling be substantially exhausted on a detesting beat, the penetrating feeler 82 will be moved frontwardly relative to the impinging feeler by engaging the more dense surface of the filling carrier or bobbin, and by such relative n'iovement the cam 36 actuated by the penetrating feeler will move the dog into its operative position, Figs. 2 and l, and as the in'ipinging feeler then partalces of its movement longitudinally of the shuttle the dog will actuate the transmitter and initiate replenishment of filling.

Thus, the side swipe or lateral movement of the impinging feeler is rendered effective to call for a change of filling only when the penetrating feeler is moved relatively to the impinging feeler by engaging the more dense surface of the bobbin or filling carrier on a detecting beat, and should the impinging feeler move prematurely longitudinally of the filling carrier and while a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle, the penetrating feeler will not have moved the dog into its operative position and consequently replenishment of filling will not be called. g

It appears to be new with applicant to provide a feeler mechanism wherein the feeler is normally held from side swipe movement prematurely by an associated penetrating feeler and in case premature movement accidentally occurs on the beatup, the premature side swipe movement of the feeler is rendered ineffective to call for a change of filling.

What is claimed is:

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of an inclined impinging feeler mounted for swinging and sliding movement in supporting means at its forward end as it slides longitudinally of the shuttle, a penctraung feeler mounted upon the impinging feeler so that both feelers move frontwardly of the loom in normal relation on a detecting beat until the filling is substantially exhausted. wher upon the feelers are caused to move relatively in a frontward direction into abnormal relation by engagement of the penetrating feeler with the more dense surface of the filling carrier, and means positioned by such relative movement of the two feelers to effect replenishment of filling upon movement of the feelers longitudinallly of the shuttle.

.2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of an inclined impinging feeler mounted for swinging movement about supporting means at its forward end as it slides longitudinally of the shuttle, a penetrating feeler which by penetrating the filling on a detecting beat prevents premature movement of the impinging feeler longitudinally of the shuttle until the filling is substantially exhausted, and means mounted on the impinging feeler between its impinging end and said supporting means and controlled by the penetrating feeler to be positioned to effect replenishment of filling by side movement of the impinging feeler only when the penetrating feeler meets the more dense surfaces of the filling carrier on a detecting beat and is moved relatively to the impinging feeler.

3. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, an impinging feeler that is mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to effect replenishment of filling, a penetrating feeler movable with the impinging feeler longitudinally of the shuttle and which by engagement with the filling prevents premature movement to effect replenishn'ient and means movable relative to the impinging feeler and controlled by the pentrating feeler to call for replenishment of the filling by movementof the feelers longitudinally of the shuttle only in case the penetrating feeler is moved frontwardly relative to the impinging feeler by contact with the dense surface of the filling carrier on a detecting beat.

4:. In, a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of an inclined impinging feeler mounted for movement in a. d1rection longitudinally of the shuttle to effect replenishn'ient of filling, a penetrating feeler connected to the inclined feeler to partake of its movement longitudinally of the shuttle and by penetration of the filling on a detecting beat prevent premature movement of the inclined feeler, and means controlled by the penetrating feeler so that it is positioned to call for a change of filling only in case the. penetrating feeler is moved frontwardly relative to the inclined feeler and the latter moves longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat.

5. In a. feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of an inclined feeler mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to effect replenishment of filling, a penetrating feeler connected to the inclined feeler to partake of its movement longitudinally of the shuttle and by penetration of the filling on a detecting beat prevent premature movement of the inclined feeler, a dog connected to and movable with the inclined feeler, and means controlled by the penetrating feeler to operatively position the dog to call for replenishment of filling when the penetrating feeler is given a frontward movement relative to the inclined feeler on a detecting beat.

6. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a penetrating and an impinging feeler both movable longitudinally of the shuttle and mounted for movement towards the front of the loom in normal relative positions on a detecting beat until the: filling is substantially eX- hausted whereupon the feelers are caused to move relatively in a frontward direc tion into abnormal relation by engagement of the penetrating feeler with the more dense surface of the filling carrier, and means positioned by such abnormal frontward relative movement of the two feelers to effect replenishment of filling by movement of the impinging feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a penetrating and an impinging feeler mounted. for movement together in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to ffect replenishment of filling, and means rendered effective to replenish the filling only when the penetrating feeler is moved. frontwardly relative to the impinging feeler on a detecting beat and the two feelers move longitudinally of the shuttle.

8. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, an impinging teeler mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to call for replenishment of filling, a penetrating 'leeler which by engagement with the filling prevents such movement of the impinging feeler until the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, a dog mounted on the impinging feeler, a transmitter adapted to be actuated by the operatively positioned dog, and means controlled by the penetrating feeler to operatively position 7 the dog only when the penetrating feeler is moved frontwardly relative to the impinging feeler on a detecting beat.

9. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising an impinging and a penetrating feeler movable together longitudinally of the shuttle, a dog movable longitudinally of th shuttle in the same direction as the feeler, a transmitter adapted to be actuated by the dog when the dog is operatively positioned as it moves longitudinally of the shuttle, and means between the penetrating feeler and the dog for o'peratively positioning the latter when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

10. In a feeler mechanism for looms the combination of an impinging sidelslipping teeler, a penetrating feeler carried by the side slipping feeler, a dog movable longitudinally of the shuttle with the side slip-ping feeler and in the same direction and controlled in ts position by the penetrating feeler, and a transmitter constructed and arranged to be actuated by the. dog as it moves with the side slipping feeler when the dog has been operatively positioned by the penetrating fee-ler.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

MELVIN L. STONE. 

